Some Towns Allowing Trick-or-Treating

October 31, 2012|Staff report, The Hartford Courant

Whether or not there's Halloween trick-or-treating tonight largely depends on where you live.

In Litchfield, still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Sandy, First Selectman Leo Paul Jr. made a last-minute decision Wednesday and decided to allow trick-or-treating. On Tuesday, he had been leaning toward postponing Halloween until Nov. 7.

Milford, West Haven, Fairfield, East Haven, New Haven, North Haven and Orange have postponed trick-or-treating until Nov. 7.

East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo said he received many phone calls from residents concerned about Halloween.

"I'm sure they will be happy" about the postponement, he said. "Nobody wants to put kids out on the streets with debris all over the place. People get concerned about a crack in the sidewalk, never mind limbs, branches and trees.

"It's not going to hurt anybody to move it to next Wednesday night."

In Clinton, First Selectman Willie Fritz is also urging families not to trick-or-treat in neighborhoods.

"It's too dangerous," he said.

Fritz said the town was planning to hold a "trunk or treat" event at one of the local schools that would allow children to go car-to-car instead. Hebron will also hold a "trunk or treat" event from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at RHAM high school.

Some towns have decided to move forward despite the mess Sandy left behind.

"That's like cancelling Christmas," said Ashford First Selectman Ralph Fletcher when asked whether he would cancel or postpone Halloween.

Fletcher said he doesn't have the power to cancel Halloween, but he is asking families to use common sense when roaming neighborhoods. It is ultimately about safety, he said.

Officials in towns like, Darien, Mansfield, Avon and Glastonbury are taking the same approach.

"We haven't canceled per se, but we've advised that it will be dangerous undertaking," said Darien Police Detective Mark Cappelli.